Conestoga’s Marisa Francione had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals in Thursday’s win over Haverford. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
By Finn Courtney
Since first meeting her in seventh grade, AJ Thompson saw the potential for a special player in Marisa Francione.
She’s taken that potential and turned it to reality, becoming Thompson and Conestoga girls basketball’s best player and leader.
“I kinda knew it then, it was just a waiting game to get her here,” Thompson said. “But the minute she stepped on the floor, [she’s] been leading us ever since. From Day 1, we knew she was gonna be our point guard, [and] when she came in last year as a captain as a junior it’s been a natural gravitation to her — she never backs down, she’s not afraid to speak up and with her play, she’s a leader by example.”
That leadership was on display Thursday night in a 47-38 win over Haverford. Francione, who averaged 11 points per game and shot 51% as a junior, finished with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals against Haverford — 10 of those points coming in the second half alone after a first half to forget for the whole Pioneer roster.
